Lens for astropotography

Csaba

Csaba

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I’m in the market for a wide-angle lens that would be primarily used for star shots. The lens will get limited use as I’m mainly interested in wildlife photography. As such, I would like something that is reasonably cheap and light. My current body is a Canon 450D which I’m planning to replace sooner rather than later as it’s showing its age. I’m thinking about getting an EF lens as I would like to make the jump to FF at some point so getting something that’s future proof seems like a good idea. I’ve been looking into the Canon 24mm and 28mm F2.8 prime lenses. The IS USM versions can be bought for around £300 second hand whereas the non IS and USM lenses are around half the price. I don’t think IS is particularly important as I’ll be using a tripod most of the time so it boils down to whether or not there is a significant difference in image quality between the lenses.

Does anyone have any opinions on the differences between the lenses and any suggestions for other lenses that I should look at? I’m happy to consider zoom lenses depending on weight and cost.
 
IS is totally irrelevant as you will be using it on a tripod, always.... so that makes like a little cheaper. If you've not already done so, join a forum such as StarGazersLounge as there's a few people on there using camera lens's. The general feeling is that 24mm is about the sweet spot for Milkyway and star shots...... The Rokinon's get really good reviews and they do a 24mm, but not sure how expensive they are.
 
Rokinon or samyang 14mm f2.8. Around£300 new, great lens for star shots
 
If, and it's a big if, you are really keen in astro starscapes etc then you might consider jumping ship from Canon, even with FF their sensors are miles off the competition.

But yes, a Rokinon/Samyang 24mm would be a good bet and as cheap as you're liable to find too.
 
I know quite a few who use the Samyang 14mm, but it has got a fair distortion although LR has a correction for it. You may not want to go that wide so the others mentioned would more than do the job I'm sure.
 
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Gaz J said:
I know quite a few who use the Samyang 14mm, but it has got a fair distortion although LR has a correction for it. You may not want to go that wide so the others mentioned would more than do the job I'm sure.
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Distorts at the edges and some say can be slightly out of focus, although I've not seen that.
156430993.jpg


I don't do astro but I've lots of shots similar to this I've done with my 14mm. Long exposure, gitte lit with a small maglite
 
Byker28i said:
Distorts at the edges and some say can be slightly out of focus, although I've not seen that.

I don't do astro but I've lots of shots similar to this I've done with my 14mm. Long exposure, gitte lit with a small maglite
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I bought it specifically for Astro. Have been looking at the 20mm Sigma recently but jury seems to be out on it at the moment as to its suitability for Astro.

This is probably the best result I've had to date with it although it's not a single shot but a stack of 8

https://flic.kr/p/GS4mYJ
 
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Oh wow thats stunning and one of my fav beaches as well. Stay in Bosherston several times.
 
+1 for the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 although it does have some issues which have to be worked around....

Issue 1: The focus is often a little bit out of sync with the lens focus scale on the barrel. This can be calibrated relatively easily by following videos on youtube, although I have found that if you carry out a few test shots you can easily find out where infinity focus is (mine is approximately at the 1.5m mark). PLus if you have live view, you can see that on screen easily.

Issue 2: The vignetting is often slightly off centred which if it bothers you, can be worked around in post-processing (which if you are doing astro photography you're probably going to be doing anyway).

This is another sample.....

Milky Way over Leyburn, North Yorkshire by DB 72, on Flickr
 
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You might find a 2nd hand Tamron 14mm f/2.8. Some distortion but simpler than the Samyang's (plain barrel rather than moustache). Haven't noticed any vignetting from it on FF.
 
another recommended lens (albeit not a prime) is the Tokina 11-16 or 11-20.
Personally a wide samyang is the way i would go.
 
Thanks everyone. 14mm is wider than I was considering but the shots posted in this thread are very nice so it looks like a good option. My dad has a Samyang fisheye for his mirrorless so I'll have a shot of that over the weekend to see how I get on with it. It looks like most of their lenses are manual focus? This shouldn't be an issue as most shots will be focused at or close to infinity. It's good to know about the issue that DB72 raised with the focus mechanism so I can check that out when I first get my hands on the lens if I decide to buy it.
 
Yeah exactly that, manual focus, but 14mm on a full frame at F8 , stick the focus ring at 3feet and everything is in focus. Good for other stuff like street.
 
Yes infinity on mine is nowhere near infinity. You can adjust them but cant see the point.
 
Gaz J said:
I bought it specifically for Astro. Have been looking at the 20mm Sigma recently but jury seems to be out on it at the moment as to its suitability for Astro.

This is probably the best result I've had to date with it although it's not a single shot but a stack of 8

https://flic.kr/p/GS4mYJ
Click to expand...

I love my 14mm Samyang and it's great for Astro. I'd have thought the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 would be great for Astro (it's my only lens on my want list at the moment).
 
odd jim said:
I love my 14mm Samyang and it's great for Astro. I'd have thought the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 would be great for Astro (it's my only lens on my want list at the moment).
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I've read a few reviews that are saying it's got quite bad coma wide open but gets better as you stop down which sort of defeats the idea of having it. More research required.
 
Issues described above usually sorted with lens correction profile
 
AdamSi said:
Issues described above usually sorted with lens correction profile
Click to expand...

From what I've read it's quite far into the frame. If it was just the corners then not so much of an issue.
 
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